If you think dear old Dad is easy to please on Father's Day, think again. Remarkably, more than half -- 53 percent -- of fathers surveyed by ShopLocal report that they have never received a good gift. And yet 67 percent of gifters polled believe that Dad is generally pleased with his gifts. One explanation for this gift-giving generation gap: almost 40 percent of sons and daughters admit to waiting until the last minute to shop for their fathers.

The online survey* from ShopLocal, the leader in multi-channel shopping services, also revealed that people generally find it easier to shop for Mom than for Dad; only 36 percent suggested Mom may be difficult to buy for compared to 64 percent implying a picky patriarch. Though spending on dads isn't meager ($8.6 billion a year), it trails spending on moms by nearly $3 billion annually.

But despite their finicky nature, dads deserve to be rewarded with thoughtful gifts, according to shopping expert Eva Yusa, also known as "Eva the Shopping Diva," shopping expert and blogger for ShopLocal's comparison shopping Web site http://www.shoplocal.com/.

"There are ways to show Dad how much you care when it comes to presenting him with a great Father's Day gift," said Eva. "Most people just don't know where to begin in shopping for Dad, which explains why many wait until the last minute. As a result, Dad is left with a lackluster gift."

"This year start shopping for gifts earlier and don't forget to use creative thought in selecting that special something. Presents that stray from the norm are always a crowd pleaser," she added.

  Eva offers these rules to live by when shopping for dads:

  -- Avoid the mundane.  A little extra thought and effort goes a long way
     when it comes to shopping. Stay away from expected items like books and
     golf clubs and opt for gifts that Dad would never buy for himself. For
     more traditional dads, buy a watch with an inscribed personalized
     message or update his wardrobe with stylish sportswear and cool
     sunglasses. If your Dad is tech-savvy, surprise him with a new gaming
     system such as the Nintendo Wii or upgrades for his car like a GPS
     system or satellite radio.
  -- Shop with emotion, not with dollar signs. If you can't buy your father
     the Ferrari he always wanted, do not fret.  A smaller sentimental gift
     can tug at his heartstrings such as a homemade card or planting a
     flower garden. And to find the best deals around your neighborhood,
     visit a comparison shopping site like http://www.shoplocal.com/ to save
     time and money.
  -- Look for special offers. This year, showcase your shopping savoir-faire
     by looking for peripheral bargains online like free shipping and gift
     wrap. This is an added value that is a great way to save a little extra
     cash.

For additional shopping tips for Father's Day, visit Eva's blog at http://www.shoplocal.com/EvatheShoppingDivaBlog.fp.

*ShopLocal distributed the survey electronically to http://www.shoplocal.com/'s email subscribers in April 2007. Results were gathered from 3,632 respondents.

About ShopLocal

ShopLocal, the leader in multi-channel shopping services, offers a complete suite of solutions connecting retailers and consumers online and in-store. The company's consumer Web site, http://www.shoplocal.com/, provides users with choice and control in their shopping experience by offering the most comprehensive selection of timely online and in-store offers on one easy-to-use site. With http://www.shoplocal.com/, consumers can find millions of products and up-to-date weekly sales, deals, and coupons for consumer electronics, apparel, groceries and more.

ShopLocal's customers include Target, Best Buy, Home Depot, CVS and Sears. ShopLocal powers multi-channel shopping for hundreds of newspaper Web sites and other leading local and shopping sites, such as Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Arizona Republic, Google and SuperPages.com. ShopLocal is owned by Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE:GCI) , Tribune Company (NYSE:TRB) , and The McClatchy Company (NYSE:MNI) . For more information, visit http://www.shoplocal.com/.

Source: ShopLocal